"Your way of acting should be different from the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else. You are not to act in anger or nurse a grudge." -Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 4.

How is our way different from the world's way? All too often I keep hearing the refrain from pre-Christians that they do not come to church because its filled with hypocrites. I tell them the standard answer that the church is a hospital for sinners and not a home for saints. But in my heart, I know they have a big point. People act in churches in ways that they would not dare act elsewhere. We attack others who disagree with us and call them evil sinners. It's no wonder that the church is the last place most postmoderns would come for help. They take one look at all our fights and decide its time to look for aid somewhere else.

Perhaps we should all reflect on Benedict's admonition. Think today, how is what I am doing different from the world's actions? Am I demonizing those who disagree with me over points of theology or the interpretation of scripture? How do my actions show that the  love of Christ comes before all else for me? And for all of us, myself included, if we cannot find a difference between our actions and the world's, we need to reflect on how we can change our ways.

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